Allen family genealogy

[1] Arms: Or on a chev sa. three martlets ar. betw. as many ogresses, each charged with a talbot or; on a chief az. a demi lion ramp. betw. two dragons' heads erased of the first.

COLLA Meann, a brother of Colla da-Chrioch who is No 85 on the "O'Hart" pedigree, was the ancestor of MacAlain, anglicised Allan, and Allen; of Clan Caroill; Clann Benain; Clann Criomhain; Clann Imanaigh, etc.

85. Colla Meann: a son of Eochaidh Dubhlen.

86. Breasal: his son; had a brother named Deadhach (or Deach) Dorn.

87. Duach: son of Breasal.

88. Fergus: his son.

89. Masin: his son.

90. Ail: his son; had a brother named Daol.

91. Alain: his son.

92. Maoldun: his son.

93. Breasal (2): his son.

94. Ail (2): his son.

95. Alain (2): his son; a quo MacAlain ("alain:" Irish, fair).

96. Aibhsidh: his son; a quo Siol Aibhsidh.

97. Olioll his son.

98. Artrigh: his son; a quo Clann Artrigh.

99. Suibhneach: his son; had a brother named Cathal, a quo Clann Cathail (or Cahill), of Ulster.

100. Aonan [2]: ("aon." Irish, the one): son of Suibhneach; a quo O'h-Aonain, anglicised Heenan. This Aonan had a brother named Lagnan, a quo O'Lagnain, anglicised Lannen.

101. Solomon: son of Aonan.

102. Ostan: his son.

103. Amhailgadh: his son.

104. Gilciaran: his son.

105. Maolruanaidh MacAllen, MacAllan (or MacAlin): his son.

Notes

[1] Allen: Of this family was John Allen, Archbishop of Dublin, who had been Treasurer of St. Paul's, London, and was consecrated Archbishop, on the 14th March, 1528; being appointed by Cardinal Wolsey, mainly, to resist and embarrass Gerald, Earl of Kildare. During Lord Thomas' revolt in 1534, Archbishop Allen, apprehending a siege of Dublin Castle, endeavoured to escape to England. He embarked at Dame Gate, but his boat stranding at Clontarf, he took refuge in the house of a Mr. Hollywood, at Artane. Early next morning, the 28th July, 1534, Lord Thomas arrived before the house in hot pursuit of him. The Archbishop was dragged out in his shirt, and, falling on his knees, begged for mercy. "Take away the churl," exclaimed Fitzgerald to his followers. The old man was then set upon and murdered. Lord Thomas subsequently, however, insisted that he only meant that the Archbishop should be removed in custody. Archbishop Allen was the author of the Liber Niger of Christ's Church.

Colonel John Allen, who was an associate of Robert Emmet's in the emeute of 1803, and one in whom Emmet placed unlimited confidence, was also of this family. This John Allen was partner in a woollen-drapery business at 36 College Green. He was after Emmet's failure for a time concealed at Butterfield-lane, and then in Trinity College, escaping eventually as a member of the College Yeomanry Corps. On his arrival in Prance he entered the army, and, through his daring services, rapidly rose to the rank of Colonel. He served with distinction in the campaign of Leipsic; he joined Napoleon on his return from Elba; and it is stated that his surrender was demanded by the British Government, on the second occupation of Paris. At all events he was sent under guard to the frontier, to be delivered up. On the last night of the journey, one of his guard, on conducting him to his room, whispered: "Monsieur le Colonel, the room in which you are to be confined is strong, but one of the iron bars of the window is loose; we trust you will not escape." He took the hint, and regained his liberty. He spent the remainder of his life in Normandy; the precise date of his death is not known, but he was living in 1846.

William Philip Allen, an enthusiatic Fenian, was also of this family. He was born in April, 1848, near the town of Tipperary, his father being a Protestant and his mother a Catholic. When Allen was three years old, his father moved to Bandon, where the boy was educated at a Protestant school, but he eventually became a Catholic. He was apprenticed to a carpenter; but before his apprenticeship expired, he worked in Cork, Dublin, and Chester. He incited his countrymen in Manchester to attempt the rescue of his friend Colonel Kelly. On the 18th September, 1867, with a small body of confederates he effected Kelly's release from a prison van which was strongly guarded by police. In the melée, a police-sergeant named Brett was killed. Allen and twenty-five others were taken and tried; and Allen, O'Brien, Larkin, Condon, and Maguire, were sentenced to death. Maguire was subsequently pardoned as being innocent (though sworn to by ten witnesses as an active member of the releasing party), and Condon, as an American citizen, was respited. Allen and his friends made spirited and manly speeches before sentence. It was on that occasion that the words "God save Ireland," were first uttered by one of the prisoners after conviction. Allen, O'Brien, and Larkin were executed at the old prison, Manchester, on the 23rd Nov., 1867; their bodies were ultimately interred in the new prison, Manchester.

[2] Aonan: This name signifies "the darling of the family."